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[Frog] Chapter 240: Hydra Fully Exposed (6/5?)
🕑 Added 2024-12-26 18:23:09 +0000 UTCAt Avengers Tower, the team was deep in thought. In their collective memory, the Cosmic Cube had indeed been taken by S.H.I.E.L.D., meaning the last person to interact with it was likely a Hydra infiltrator.
Hawkeye’s voice crackled in their earpieces.
“Guys, Pierce has vanished.”
“Vanished? That’s impossible! Stark Tech trackers are satellite-enabled!” Tony exclaimed in disbelief. He immediately ordered Jarvis to locate the tracker, but the result was even more unsettling.
“No tracker signal detected,” Jarvis’s mechanical voice confirmed, echoing in their ears. The trail had gone cold once more.
Captain America muttered, “It seems Pierce must have ties to Hydra.”
Before he could say more, a thunderous explosion shook the city. Everyone rushed to the balcony and saw smoke billowing from the S.H.I.E.L.D. building.
“Something’s happened!” Captain America shouted. Hawkeye and Black Widow immediately headed toward the scene.
By the time the rest of the team arrived, the smoke had cleared, revealing a man in a black-and-yellow combat suit standing atop a fallen S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
As soon as he spotted Captain America, the man’s face lit up with excitement.
“Steve! I didn’t expect to see you here. Come and fight me!”
Tony scanned the man and spoke through the comms.
“He’s Bartok the Leaper, a former member of the French Foreign Legion!”
The name meant little to most of the team, but Tony’s analysis hinted at the man’s formidable skills.
Bartok advanced, his soldiers quickly surrounding the Avengers. With an impatient glance at them, he barked, “What are you doing? This fight is between me and Captain America!”
Hearing this, the soldiers dispersed. Bartok assumed a fighting stance and charged at Captain America. But just as his punch was about to land, he froze mid-strike. Holding his earpiece, he listened to a command, sighed, and backed off.
“Too bad. It seems our fight will have to wait until next time,” Bartok said, retreating to his soldiers.
From within the S.H.I.E.L.D. building, the soldiers emerged carrying a large crate. Bartok leaped onto a vehicle and flashed a grin at Captain America.
“Until we meet again!”
The Avengers exchanged glances. Bartok’s behavior made it clear he was acting on Hydra’s orders. If they could capture Bartok, they might uncover Hydra’s members.
The roar of engines echoed as Bartok’s vehicle disappeared from sight. Tony immediately took to the skies to pursue him.
Meanwhile, at another location, Alan unfolded several newspapers in front of him. He read about the NYPD’s successful capture of Hydra operatives, but what followed was even more shocking, even to him.
Over the years, Hydra had completely hollowed out S.H.I.E.L.D. from within, leaving it crippled. Agent Phil Coulson had taken the remaining 503 S.H.I.E.L.D. agents underground, while Hydra had officially severed ties, seemingly intent on reviving their old network.
Alan rubbed his chin in thought and summoned Red Queen.
“Master, what are your instructions?”
Alan said, “Send Hydra’s intel to a man named Phil Coulson.”
“Understood.”
The Red Queen, ever efficient, flawlessly executed Alan’s command. Moments later, a dossier was transmitted to a secure safehouse.
The remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, their expressions tense, gathered at the location.
Coulson stared at the file without address in disbelief. It made him question whether Nick Fury was truly dead—after all, who else could have provided such critical information about Hydra?
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